Surgical knife.



No. 778,684. PA'TENTED DEC. 2'7, 1904.

y L. LLWIS. SURGICAL IINIIL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22.1904.

l' if? IlNiTnD STATES Patented December 27, 1904.

` artist Orrick.

SURGICAL KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 778,684, dated December2'?, 1904.

Application filed August 22, 1904. Serial No. 221,711.

To (all w/tmit 7115 panty concern,.-

Be it known that I, LEOPOLD LEwIs, a subject of the Emperor of Germany,residing at Strasburg, Alsace, Germany, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Surgical Knives, of which the following is aspecification.

This. invention relates to a new and improved surgical knife having asheath-handle.

The knives now commonly employed for surgical purposes are firmly fixedin their handles and are single or combined in sets in a case. In thisarrangement it is necessary for one to' always carry the entire case,even if only a single knife is to be used. In order to avoid thisobjection, the present invention has for its object to provide a knifeof this character the handle of which also acts as a sheath, whichlatter permits antiseptic manipulation.

Figure l illust-rates a side view of the knife in condition for use.Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation, theblade being closed and the lid of the case open; and Fig. 4f is a topview of a modification.

The blade is adapted to be opened and shut and to this end turns upon apivot-pin Z and is mounted in a casing g, of metal, which may be closedb y means of a sliding' or hinged lid rIhat portion of the knife-bladeforming the pivot portion p is prismatic in form in order that the lidmay be readily slid over this portion whether the knife is open or shut.In the first case the slide s, which is feathered, rests upon theprismatic portion in such manner as to firmly hold the blade in thecasing, and in this position it is ready for use.

v indicates a roughened portion by means of which the slide is moved. Asindicated at c, the handle-casing is provided with a cutaway portionwhich admits of access to the blade to open the same. The pin v, carriedby the lid and extending into the casing, is for the purpose ofpreventing the slide s from being pulled entirely out of the casing ormoved in the direction of the blade further than is necessary. In theformer case said pin is adapted to strike against the bottom of thecasing-in the latter against a stop-pin t", se-4 cured on the inside ofthe casing.

As indicated in Fig. A, the slide is provided with edge portionsengaging the outer sides 0f the casing, whereas in the first-describedform it moves in a groove f. The pivot-pin CZ can be made removable andthe knife-blades arranged to be interchangeable. Instead of aknife-blade an eating implement may be employed.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A knife for surgical purposes having a sheath-handle, a knife-bladepivotally mounted in one end of said handle and adapted to close withinthe same and provided with fiat sides at the pivot portion, and a lid,coextensive in length with the handle, and mounted to slidelongitudinally thereon, said lid being slidable outwardly in onedirection a distance sufficient to permit its inner end to clear thepoint of the blade whereby the latter may be opened and being adapted inits closed position to rest upon the fiat portion of the blade to holdthe same in firm fixed position within the handle.

2. A knife for surgical purposes having a sheath-handle, a knife-bladepivotally mounted on one end of said handle and adapted to close withinthe same and provided with fiat sides at the pivot portion, a lid,coextensive in length with the handle, and mounted to slidelongitudinally thereon, said lid being slidable outwardlyin onedirection a distance sutiicient to permit its inner end to clear thepoint of the blade, whereby the latter may be opened, and being adaptedin its closed position to rest upon the fiat portion of the blade tohold the same in firm fixed position within the handle, and stops forlimiting the movement of said lid in either direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LEOPOLD LEWIS. IVitnesses: Y

IRvIN M ELVINE Lewis, GUsTAv SD. W EIss.

